News


downsmail.co.uk


MPHelen meetswith pupils on school tour


MP HELEN Grant has continued her tour of schools with two stops in Maidstone. Mrs Grant visited Tiger Primary


School in Loose and Maidstone Grammar School for Girls . A spokesman said: “The primary


school sessionwaswith year3pupils aged 7 and 8, and everyone includ- ingthe teachers had achance to put a question to Helen.


“Itwas schoolScienceDayandthe


topicwas volcanoes, so Pompeii and Vesuvius featured prominently. Is thePrimeMinister strict?wasaques- tion that created some interest.” When asked what Brexit was, Joe


(8), assertively explained that ‘it is notdoingthe same thingasweused to do’. Mrs Grant responded: “Well, he’s notwrong is he?” Next stop was Maidstone Gram-


Artist’s exhibition to help fund’s research


AN ARTIST diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is showcasing her talent by putting on an exhibition inAllington.


Shelagh Oates (67), of Foxden


Drive in Downswood, is hosting an art display to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research. MrsOates said: “I justwant peo-


ple to realise it is not the end of the world.As long as youstaypositive thenyoucanget throughanything. “My husband and I live by the


word overcome. I have been very lucky and want to help others, I have had a lot of support frommy husband.” Shelagh was diagnosed in De-


cember 2011, after finishingher last year teaching andretiringwith her husband, Bill. Shewas given the idea to host an


art exhibition by a friend to raise money to go towards Parkinson’s research, and contacted Allington Library. Her sisterAnnie Bailey (53) said:


“Once people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, they think that’s it and just accept that’swhat life is going to be like. “Shelagh is mainly part of this


organisation to help bring aware- ness towards the research into the disease, which helps reduce the symptoms and massively benefits peoplewith Parkinson’s. “I think what is special about


18 Maidstone March 2019 Shelagh Oates with sisters Annie Bailey andMaureen Lay


Shelagh is, obviously,with Parkin- son’s you shake and don’t really have that control, so for her to be able to sketch these detailed and intricate drawings is amazing.” Shelagh’swork also attractedthe


attention of Maidstone Museum, who now prints her work onto merchandise as part of their mar- keting programme. SamButler, operationsmanager


at the museum, said: “Two years ago I ran a competition for a new range here in the shop. “It was judged by Graham Clarke and an internal panel, the


imagewas to be done in black and white and show what the artist thought representedMaidstone. “Shelagh came a very close sec-


ond so her drawing of the Arch- bishops’ Palace is on the tea towel, a key ring and amug.” FromMarch 1 toMarch 28, every


Tuesday and Thursday, Shelagh will be putting on zentanglework- shops from 3-5pm and meet the artist sessions from 2:30-5pm at Allington Library. Zentangle is produced with an


ink pen, sketching a series of ab- stract patterns all put together.


mar School for Girls (MGGS) where thewholeof year eight (pictured)as- sembled to engage with Helen on herwork as anMP. Topics included the referendum,


her business career and her views on gender balance in Parliament. Mrs Grant said: “I am so pleased


that our schools are actively pro- moting politics and the role of civil society to our next generations.”


Fizz, food and


fun at festival IF YOU drink enough Prosecco and gin, dancing will undoubt- edly follow. That’s why Gin & Dance re-


turns to Maidstone’s Mote Park on Saturday, June 29. Organisers are promising a


feast of Italian street food, live jazz and swingmusic, a guest ap- pearance by the UK’s best Take That tribute band and, of course, a variety of Prosecco, gins and cocktails. The event will be split into two


sessions running from noon to 5pm and 6pm to 11pm. Details from www.iloveproseccofesti- val.com.


Sicknote tally


DOCTORS inwest Kent – includ- ing Maidstone and Malling – signed 50,932 sick notes last year. The largest proportion – nearly


9,000 or 18% – was related to mental health conditions. Nearly 5,000 were connected to muscu- loskeletal complaints. The latest NHS figures equate


to 139 sick notes being signed each day in the region.


Charity sale MAIDSTONE Mencap's Jumble and Nearly New Sale is being held atCobtreeHall, School Lane, offWillington Street at 2.30pmon Saturday,March 9. Contact Suzannah at s.con-


stant@btinternet.comformore de- tails.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48